Machine for making shoe soles



May 1, 192a. 1,667,948

F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed April 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 J20 124 1,22 13,20 13 '5 I raven/tor FREDERICK H. PERRY, DECEASED EDNA APERRY; EXEGUTRIX.

May 1, 192a. I 1,667,948

F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed April 20. 1922 12 sheets-sheet -2- ,w; 258 614 115 -1" as? y 886 8 681 887 3 5 Inventor.

FREDERICK H. PERRY, DECEASED EDNA A. PERRY. Exzcumlx 5y hel-Attorr q May 1, 1928. 1,667,948

F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SQLES Filed April 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 11a 65 El; 6 616 258 J Witness 55 54a 55'?) I I nz/entar FREDERICK H. PERRY, DEcEAs'Eo EDNA APERRY, EXECUTRIX May 1, 1928. 1,667,948

F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed April 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 QT ew I 762 75 683 L16 2;? Fl {5 7 725;

75a 7 616 746 7 2 764 r 75a ---4 t b o l r v I N 1 EDNAVAPEHRY, EXECUTRIX ByherAttorn Inventor \A/i/tness FREDERICKHPERRY, DECEASED May 1, 1928.

1,667,948 F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed April 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 704 rar o o q p-oo o o p O;

& AVl AV a 8 2 854 Z98 804 8 9 E-"mmm A kfiay W I nI/n tor mtn/e FREDERICK H. PERRY, DECEASED EDNA APERRY, EXECUTRIX Egher'Arforr gy May 1, 1928. 1,667,948

F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed April 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig. 25

Inventor FREDERICK H. PERRY, DECEASED EDNA A. PERRY, EXECUTRIX 5 her Attorng May 1, 1928.

F. H. PERRY MACHINE For: MAKING snos SOLES Filed April 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet mm EDNA APEHRY, EXEC wflorn M3520 UTRIK FREDERI I 666 \Vi/lness F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES May 1, 1928. 1,667,948

Filed April 20, 1922. 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Inventor 4 Fazozmcx H. PERRY, DECEASED EDNA A. PERRY. EXECUTPHX 1 Q4 herAfiOrn es May 1, 1928. I 1,667,948

F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed April 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 1541a mine 38 118 IWZ/Q 0 14 FHFDEHICK H. PERRY, DECEASED E APERRY, EXECUTRIX L33 erAflorng May 1, 1928. 1,667,948

F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed A rii 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 11a Fey. 57 g 875 156 E 152 O :5 a

V X I O 158 l x J o N 172 7 555 50; m q o Inventor FHEDERIC H. PERRY. DECEASED EDNA A ERHY, EXECUTHIX 4 5 her ATIorn qy May 1, 1928. 1,667,948

F. H. PERRY MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOE SOLES Filed April 20, 1922 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Qiso 4.1

Patented May 1, 1928.

. UNITED STATES PATENT-email,

FREDERICK PERRY, DECEASED, LATE OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, BY EDNA A.

PERRY, EXECUTRIX, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS,

FATERSON, NEVJ JERSEY, A GORPOBATION OF MACHINERY oonrona'rloiv, or rinw JERSEY.

ASSIGNOB TO UNITED SHOE MACHIN non MAKING siren sores;

Application filed April 20, 1922. Serial No. 555,774.

The presentinvention relates to machines for making shoe soles, and more particular- 1y to a machine for making what are known commercially as manufactured insoles from 5 stock supplied to tho machinein the form of sole-shaped blanks.

Manufactured insoles for welt shoes are built up of two or more layers of sheet material which are secured together in face-to- W face relation, at least one of the layers having a projection formed thereon and ,l'ur nishing a rib to which the uppermaterials and the welt of the shoe are sewed.

An object of the invention is to reor- 15 ganize and improve the construction and mode of operation of the machines of the character named for the purpose of rendering them more efficient and accurate in operation. Y t i To theaccomplishment oif this'object and such others as may'hercinatter appear, the invention comprises the features and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointedlout in the appende claims. a

The invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings,- illustrating one form ofthe invention, and from the following detailed description of the construction shown therein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in

frontelevation, of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain portions of the machine being shown in section to illustrate details of construction; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper portion of the machine; Fig. 3 is a detailed per speetive view of one of the devices for controlling the admission of compressed air to the lower dies for the purpose of ejecting the completed insoles therefrom; Fig. el is a. detailed view, in front elevation, of the switch for controlling the motor which drives the machine; Fig. 5' is a view, partially in plan zontal section, of the switcn shown in 4:; Fig. 6 is a sectional plan viewtaken substantially on the finch- 6 of Fig. lbut with parts omitted; Fig. 7 is a detailed plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the mechanism for actuating the picker devices which transfer the canvas insole blanks from the supply magazines to .contain the composite showing also the cement rolls associated transferring the insole and partially in central horilower dies; Fig. 8 a View, in side elevation, oil a portion oi themechanism shown in Fig. F 9 is a. plan View, on an en larged scale, or one of the supply magazines for holding the composite leather andfibre blanks which are to be assembled with the canvas blanks to produce the laminated in soles, this view also showing, partially in plan and partially in section, the mechanism for separating the endmost blank from the stack in the magazine Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10 -10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a top plan View, partially in section, of one of theinagazines for holding the anvas blanks, showing also the associated blank-separating mechanism; Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is. a sectionalview taken substantially on the line 1313 of Fig. 11; Fig. l l is a tragmentarv inverted plan view of the lower finger of the blank separator device shown in Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a view, in side elevation, of a portion of the actuating (l means for the blank-separating mechanism associated with one of the magazines which blanks, this view the mechanism for H blanks from the magazine to the rolls; Fig. 16 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line l6 1 6 of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15., looking from left to rightin said figure; Fig. 18 is a view, in central vertical section, of the cement tank; Fig. 19 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the cement reservoir; Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view of one of the heating units used in connection with the cement tank; Fig. 21 is a transverse secwith said magazine and .tional view of one of the cement-applying rolls and the distributing head for supplying cement thereto; Fig. 22 is a sectional-view taken on the line of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is an inverted plan View of one of the picker arms and the picker device carried thereby for handling theinsole blanks Fig. 24 is a view, in sideelevation, of the parts shown in Fig. 23; Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken on the line 25%25 oi Fig. 2d; Fig. 26 is a view, int'ront elevation, of a portion of the mechanism for actuating one of the picker arms together with the cam and portions ol. the mechanism actuated thereby for transferring the composite blanks from one of the supply magazines to the adjacent cement rolls; Flf. 27 is a view, in front elevation, of the cam and cam lever for actuating the blank separating n'iechanism associated with the magazines for the canvas blanks; Fig. 2b is a view, in side elevation, of one pair of upper and lower dies, showing the dies in cooperative relation; Fig. 29 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the dies shown in Fig. 28; Fig. 30 is a transverse sectional view ot said dies, illustrating their action in moulding a sewing-rib in a canvas blank; Fig. 31 is a detail view, in side elevation, of the toe ends of two cooperating sewing-rib forming dies, showing the devices for insuring accurate vertical alinemcut of the dies; Fig. 33 is a view in front elevation, of one of the mechanical bl.-ink-cjector devices; Fig. It; is a view, partially in end elevation and partially in sectit'm oi the mechanism shown in Fig. 32; Fig. Si is a detailed view, in end elevation, of a. portion of the ejector mechanism, the operative parts being shown in (litter-cut positions from those in which they appear in Fig. 33; Fig. 35 is a perspective view of the cement rolls and associated mechanism for feeding the composite blanks; Fig. 3b is a detailed view, in vertical section and on a much reduced scale illustrating the mounting of the turret which carries the lower dies; Fig. 37 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 37-37 of Fig. 1; Fig. 38 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 38-38 of Fig. 37; Fig. is a view, partially in front elevation and partially in central vertical section, of the clutch mechanism; Fig. 10 is a view, partially in plan and partially in section and on an enlarged scale, of the clutch mechanism, the section being taken on the line -l0-l0 of Fig. 39; Fig. 4-1 is a view, in front elevation, of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 40; Fig. 42 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the clutch mechanism; and Fig. 43 is a sectional view taken on the line 4t3-et3 of Fig. 39.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is designed to manufacture a multiple-layer insole. the sewing-rib surface of which may be furnished by a blank of some such fabric as canvas, while to this may be secured a composite blank. consisting of pieces of fibre and leather skiving. previously cemented together in i'ace-to-face relation, and forming an intermediate layer and the other outer or sock layer, of the insole. The composite character of the second blank, however, forms no essential part of the invention.

The illustrated machine is adapted to make two insoles of the above described type simultaneously. Accordingly, provision is made whereby at each cycle of operations of the machine, two blanks consisting of sheets of canvas are operated upon by instrumentalities which mould a sewing-rib thereon. and two composite blanks made up of sheets of fibre and leather are secured in facetelace relation with two other canvas blanks upon which sewing-ribs were moulded at the preceding cycle of operations of the machine. To this end, i'our female sewing-rib forming dies -18 (Figs. 1. and (5) are mounted 91) degrees apart upon an intermittently aw t'uated rotatable turret 50. The dies 48 are arranged with their blank-engaging faces horizontally disposed to receive and support the insole blanks to be operated upon. For the purpose of moulding the sewing-ribs in the canvas blanks, two male dies 52 (Figs. 1 and 2) are adapted to cooperate with the female dies .lH at adjacent stations of the turret no separated by quadrants. For the iiiurpose of securing together the canvas blanks and the composite blanks, two smooth 'l'accd sole-pressing dies 131i: are arranged to cooperate with the female dies -18 at the other two 9tl-degrce stations of the turret. The male sewing-rib forming dies and the sole-pressing dies 54- are arranged to reciprocate vtartically above the turret and do not participate in the rotation of the latter.

The turret is rotated 180 degrees while the upper dies and 5-1 are raised out of cooperative relation with the turret dies 48, bringing two empty turret dies beneath the two male sewing-rib forming dies 52. At the same time the other two turret dies 48 are brought; into position beneath the two sole-pressing dies 54, said turret dies supporting the canvas blanks in which sewingribs were moulded at the preceding cycle of the machine. \Vhile the turret 50 momentarily remains stationary, after each partial rotation thereof, a single canvas blank is placed upon each of the empty dies carried by the turret and a single composite leather and fibre blank, the under face of which has been coated with cement, is superposed upon each of the ribbed canvas blanks SllpPUl'tQtl by the other turret dies. The tour upper dies and :il are then lowered simultaneously into cooperative relation with the four turret (lies. This operation causes a sewingrib to be moulded in the two newly-supplied canvas blanks. while the two composite blanks are pressed against the previouslyribbcd canvas blanks. thus l'ormin; two complete insoles. The upper dies are then raised and the turret is rotated through another half revolution. During each partial rotation or step movement of the turret, the completed insoles are ejected from the lower dies which supported them, leaving these dies ready to receive fresh canvas blanks at the next cycle of operation.

The canvas blanks are supplied to the machine from two magazines, (xmtainers or llo lift) menses holders 56 and 57, and the composite blanks being transferred by said picker devices to the dies 48 carried by the turret.

The turret is mounted to rotate in a hori'lzontal plane between a hollow base (34: (Fig. 1) and an upper frame member 66. As shown in Figs. ('3 and 36, thc'turret 50 comprises a central hub (38 and four radian ing arms equally'spaced apart thereon. The turret journaled on a hollow vertical podt T2, the lower portion of vvhichis fixed in the base 6-1. Above the baseGa, a portion 74 ot' the post '72, which is of slightly greater diameter than the lower portion provides a bearing :tor the turret. The hub 68 ot the turret 50 rests upon a bearing face 76 at the upper extremity of the base 642, while the upper face of the hub engages a hearing surface on the lower side of an annular flange 78 formed on the post '72. Above the flange 78 on axialextension of the post 72 projects into a cylindrical recess in the upper trame member 66. The lower portion of the upper frame member 66 is flanged, as indicated at 80 in Figs. 1 and 2, and this flange is bolted to four arms 82 radiating from the flange 78 on the post 72, the arms 82 and flange 78 of the post 72 sustaining the weight of the upper frame member 66 and the parts mounted thereon.

The turret 50 is intermittently rotated in proper timed relation to the reciprocation of the upper dies 52 and 51 by means comprising an annular gear 841 (Figs. land 0) which is provided with external gear teeth and is secured by screws to the under sides of the arms 70 oi the turret. Meshing with the annular gear 84 is a pinion 86 secured to the upper end of a vertical driving shaft 88 journaled in a bearing 89 on the base 6 1.

Each of the upper dies and 5a is sotuned to a die-holder 90 (Fig. 1) carried at the lower end of a plunger 92 mounted to slide in a bearing 94 in the upper frame member 66. The, portion of the plunger 92 which extends through the bearing 04; is square in cross-section to prevent the plung er irom turning. The portion 06 of the plunger is made cylindrical to pass through a ceiural bore in a block 98. Rising axially iron! the upper portion 06 of the plunger 92 a tail-rod which extends through and .i. guided by a bearing 102 on a bracket 103 secured to the upper frame member 66. A still expansion spring 10% coiled around the portion 90 ot the plunger, 92 and is housed within a sleeve that is seated in a cvlintlrical recess in the under side of the lock 8. The upper end of the spring 104 bears against a shoulder formed at the upper end of the sleeve 105 while the lower end of the spring bears upon theuppcr extremity oi the squared portion of the plungcr. The downward movement of the plunger under the influence 01 the spring 104 is limited by nuts 106 threaded on the portion 00 of the plungeand engaging the top of the block 08. The lower end of the sleeves 105 projects below the block 98 and is externallyscrew-tlireaded to receive a pair of nuts 108, one of which bears against the bottom of the block 08. By turning the nuts 108, the con'ipression of thespring 10 1 may bevaried to vary the pressure exerted by the upper die upon the work. i

The die-carrying plungers 92 are reciprocatcd in their bearings 9 1 by crank-actuated links 110 having their lower ends pivotally' connected with the blocks 08. The lower portion of each link 110 bifurcated to em brace the block 08 and the ends of the arms of the link are provided with apertures which receive pivot pins 112, the inner ends 01" which are screw-threaded into the block 98. in order to prevent unduopressure on the. pivot pins 112 during the work-engaging movement of the die, the lower extremities of the arms of the bifurcated link 110 engage shoulders 11 formed on the block 98. The weight of the upper dies 52 and 54,

the die-carrying plungers 92 and associated movableparts is counterbalanced by coiled springs 116 (Fig. 1) which are severally secured at one end to the upper frame member 66 and at the opposite end to the respective (lie-carrier 90. p

The links 110 associated with the upper dies 52 and 5-1:, which are arranged atdiametrically opposite sides of the machine are pivotally connected at their upper ende with cranks 120 formed on axially alincd horizoutal shafts the inner endsot which are journaled inbcarings 12%. supported by the upper :tran'ie member 66. The outer ends of the crank-shafts 122 are journaled in bearings 1.26 formed at the upper ends of diametrically arranged brackets 128, the lower ends of whicl'i are bolted to the upper 11111110 member Gdaud severally constitute one side of each of the bearings ill for the die-carrying.plungers 92. The brackets are held rigid by long tic-bolts 118 rising from the basool and secured to the outer extremities of said brackets; The crankshat'ts 122 are driven through beveled gears secured on their inner ends. 'lhe gears .30 engage opposite sides of a beveled gear 132 secured to a central vertical (.lriving sl :tt lo t. the upper end of which extends through hearings in the upper frame member 60 while the lower portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 36, extends through hearings in the opposite ends of the hollow post "2 upon which the turret is journaled.

Ill)

The links 110 associated with the other two upper dies 52 and 5a are pivotally connected at their upper ends with cranks 136 formed on two axially alincd horizontal crank-shafts 138. As shown clearly in Fig. 2, the inner ends of the crank-shafts 138 are journaled in bearings 116 supported by the upper frame member 66 while their outer ends are extended through bearings 112 on a pair of diametrically arranged brackets 'H-t which are disposed at right angles to the brackets 128 and are likewise bolted to the frame member 66. As in the case of the brackets 128, the brackets 14a constitute one side of the bearings for the eorrespmuling die-carrying plungers 92. The crank-shaft: 138 are driven by means of a beveled gear 146 secured to the central driving shaft 131. which gear engages a pair of beveled gears 148, one of which is secured to the inner end of each crank shaft 138.

Inasmuch as heavy pressure is exerted by the upper dies 52 and 54 upon the work supported by the lower or turret dies 18, provision is made for receiving the downward pressure exerted by the upper dies upon the turret and thus relieving the bearing post 72 of the strain resulting from such pressure. To this end, the under side of the annular gear 84 carried by the turret is adapted to be engaged by four supporting lugs 150 (Figs. 1 and 6) rising from four radial brackets 15?. (Figs. 1 and 6) that are arranged degrees apart about the base 64 to which they are bolted. The height of the supporting lugs 150 is such that at times when there is no pressure on the dies, i. e., during the partial rotations of the turret 50, the under side of the gear 8 1-will be maintained just out of actual contact with the upper faces of the lugs 150, but when the work is subjected to the pressure of the upper dies, the slight downward spring of the turret 50 brings the gear 84 into contact with said lugs which then receive the downward thrust of the dies.

T he shaft 88 which aetuatcs the turret 50, and the shaft 13 1 which aetuates the upper dies 52 and 54, are both driven from a continuously rotating vertical shaft 156 arranged in axial alinement with the shaft 88 and journaled in a bearing 158 supported by the base 61. The shaft 156 drives the shafts 88 and 131 through a clutch comprising a central driving clutch member 160 (Fig. 1) secured to the shaft 156. a driven clutch member 162. at the upper side of the central clutch member 160, which is secured to the lower end of the shaft 88 and a second driven clutch member 164. at the lower side of the central clutch member 166, which is mounted to turn freely on the driving shaft 156. The driven clutch member 161 has a pinion 166 secured thereto which engages a gear 168 secured to the lower extremity of the central driving shaft 134.. The central clutch member 166 is provided with driving projections upon both its upper and lower faces. The driven clutch members 162 and 1641 are severally provided with devices whereby they may be independently connected with or disconnected from the driving clutch member 160 and mechanism is provided, as will hereinafter appear, for automatically actuating these devices to connect the two driven clutch members alternately with the driving clutch member.

The clutch shaft 156 has secured thereto a worm wheel 17() (Figs. 1 and 37) which is driven by a worm 17:5 secured to one end of a horizontal driving shaft 171 journaled at its opposite ends in bearings supported by the base 6-1. A pulley 176 (Fig. 217) is secured to the driving shaft 17 and is connected by a belt 178 with a. pulley 1.86 carried by the armature shaft of an electric motor 182 which is mounted upon the base 6-1 and is started and stopped by a manually controlled switch 181 (Fig. 1) that is also mounted upon the base 61.

To stop the machine quickly when the power is thrown off from the motor 182, a suitable brake is provided comprising a brake drum 186, (Figs. 37 and 38) which is secured to the horizontal driving shaft 174, and a pair of segmental brake shoes 188 which are severally pivoted at one end upon ahorizontal shaft 190 hereinafter to be referred to. The pivoted ends of the brake shoes 188 are arranged side-by'side upon the shaft 190 and are confined between a pair of collars 192 which are secured to said shaft. At their opposite ends the brake shoes 188 are connected by means of a toggle 1%. A spring 196, interposed between the base 64: and the knee of the toggle 191, tends to straighten the toggle and thus release the. brake. The toggle is adapted to be actuated to set the brake by means of a bell-crank lever 198 which is fulcrumed at 200 upon the base 64 and one arm of which pivotally connected with the knee of the toggle 191. The opposite arm of the bell-crank lever 198 constitutes a foot treadle 202 for actuating the toggle when the brake is released. In Fig. 238 the foot treadle 202 is shown in its lowermost position and the brake is set. The foot treadle is maintained in this position while the machine is at rest. by means which will be describ d h -oiin after. \Vhile the machine is in operation. however. the brake is released and the foot treadle raised. The foot, trcadle may then be depressed at any time to set the brake and stop the machine. Connections are provided, as will be hereinafter described, whereby the brake may be operated by compressed air. the action of which is automatically controlled by the switch 181, the construction being such that when the switch is closed to sole blanks, while the other dies 52 and 54 and the other cooperating turret dies 48 are shaped to operate upon left sole blanks. The magazines 56 and 57 are loaded, respectively, with right and left canvas sole blanks, while the magazines 58 and 59 are loaded with right and left composite sole blanks, respectively. With this arrangement, a pair of right and left insoles is produced at each cycle of operations of the machine.

The blanks to be operated upon by the dies are supplied to the machine from the magazines 56, 5'7, 52; and (Figs. 1, 2 and 6). The magazines 56 and 57 which contain right and left canvas blanks, respectively, are so located that when the turret 50 comes to rest between each partial rotation thereof, the dies at) at two adjacent quadrants of the turret will be opposite the inner sides of said magazines. The magazines 58 and 59 which contain, respectively, right and left composite blanks of leather and fibre are arranged so as to be in proximity to the other dies 48 of the turret 50 while the turret is stationary. All of the magazines are constructed and arranged to support the blanks in vertical stacked formation.

As shown in detail in Figs. 9 to 1'2, inclusive, each of the supply magazines 56, 57, 58 and 59 comprise four vertical guide-rods which are arranged to bear against the lateral edges of the stacked blanks at four separate points. To adapt the magazines to hold blanks of different sizes, the guide-rods 252 are adjustable inwardly or outwardly. To this end, the guide-rods 252 are supported at their opposite extremities by a pair of arms 254: which are mounted with provision for adjustment upon upper and lower frame members 256 horizontally (llSpOSELk and adapted to surround the blanks at the top and bottom of the magazine. The frame members 256 of each magazine are rigidly connected together by means of four vertical tie-rods 958. The magazine structures consisting of the upper and lower frame members 256 and the tie-rods 258 are rigidly supported by means of brackets which are secured to fixed portions of the frame of the machine. as will hereinafter appear. The four guide-rods 252, in each of the several Il'HIQ'ZIZiHUS, are arranged in oppositely disposed pairs, the members of which engage the opposite lateral edges of the blanks at points adjacent the toe and heel ends thereof, substantially as shown in Figs. 9 and 11. lVith this arrangement, the guiderods 25?. serve to prevent longitudinal as well as transverse cdgewise displacement of the blanks.

To permit inward or outward adjustn'ient of the guide-rods 252 in accordance with the size of the blanks to be stacked in the magazines, the supporting arms 254 for each of the four guide-rods in each magazine are severally rigidly secured to the upper and lower ends of four vertical supporting rods 260. The supporting rods 260 extend through apertures in the upper and lower magazine frame members .356, the opposite ends of these rods projecting respectively above the upper frame members and below the lower frame members to receive the guide-rod supporting arm 254, the latter being arranged adjacent the upper side of the upper frame member and adjacent the under side of the lower frame member. The lower set of guide-rod supporting arms 25-1 of the magazines 56 and 57, and the upper set of arms 251 of the magazines 58 and 5!) are provided with extensions having scgmental s'lots 26 formed thereon. Screws 266 extend through the slots 264 and are threaded into the adjacent magazine frame members 256 to secure the arms and the guide-rods 53552 in adjusted positions. By oosening the bolts 266 to permit the arms 25% to be swung inwardly or outwardly, the guide-rods 252 may be adjusted indepcndently as desired.

The stack of canvas blanks in each of the magazines 56 and 57 rests upon a supporting plate or follower 270 (Fig. 13) which engages the lowermost blank of the stack and is constantly urged in an upward direction to raise the stack so that the blanks will be successively brought to the top of the n'iagazine. The stack is prevented from rising above the top of the magazine by a plurality of delivery devices 272 (Fig. 11 and 12) which separate the blanks from the stack as they successively reach the top of the magazine, these devices being actuated to release the topmost blank to permit its removal by the adjacent picker device 60 while preventing the upward escape from the magazine of the following blanks. The stack of composite blanks in each of the magazines 58 and 59 is a rrangcd to feed downwardly by gravity. These blanks are supported by a plurality of delivery devices 27% (Figs E and 10) similar to the devices 272 employed in connection with the magazines 56. The devices 274 are actuated to separate the terminal blanks from the stack as the Y succcssively reach the bottom of the magazine and to release them so that they will be discharged, one by one, from the magazine.

The magazines 56 and 57 for the canvas blanks are supported by means of brackets 276 (Figs. 1 and 2) one of the brackets 276 being bolted to one side of the adjacent bracket 128 of the upper frame member 66, while the other bracket 276 is bolted to one side of the adjacent bracket 144 of the frame member 66. Formed at the outer end of each magazine-supporting bracket 276. is a split sleeve 278 arranged to receive a post 5280 rising from a yoke 28:2, the arms of which are bolted at their lower extremities to the upper side of the upper frame member 256 of the magazine. The split sleeve 278 is contracted to grip the post 280 by two clamping bolts 28st. This construction permits vertical adjustment of the magazine to locate it' so that the uppermost blanl: will be supported at the proper elevat on to be most ell'ec tively 'zed by the p'.\er device 60. Each magazine and ST further supported by a bracket 286 (Figs. (5 a 11) which is adjustably secured t tie bolt 118. The bracket a pairot inwardly extending arms .284, (r ig'. 11) the inner extremities ol which are secured to the tie-no at the outer side of the magazine. A. shown in Fig. 1, each bracket/E286 is provided with a pair of urtially alined sleeves througu which the respective tiebolt 113 eXtends. One of the sleeves 2S8 oi each bracket 2-86 is split and adapted to be pinched upon the tie-bolt 118 by a clamp-screw 290 which may be loosened to permit vertical :uljustmont of the iiiugazine.

The supporting plates or followers 270 (Fig. 1), which support the staciis in the magazines 56 and 57, severally comprise a flat sole-shaped follower plate which rests upon a vertically movable supporting plat form 292 1 and 13), the lollower-plate 270 being reinovably secured to the platform by screws 27 The supporting platform 292 is carried at the upper end of a sleeve 293 mounted to slide on a vertical guide post 294 rising from the ba e til. Secured to the lower extremity of the w 293 is one end of a supporting arm 296, opposite end of which is mounted to slide upon the adjacent vertical tie bolt 118. A stepcollar 298 on the tie-bolt 11.8 limits the upward sliding movement of the supporting arm 296 to prevent the :lfollower-plate 270 from moving above the top of the magazine.

For the purpose of feed ng the stack of blanks upwardly in the magazines 56 and 57, each follower plate 270 acted upon by a heavy weight 300 suspended by a cord which passes over a pulley 2504 on the bracket 9.86 and'is connected at its opposite end to the arm 296.

Means is provided tor-positively preventing downward i'no'vement oi the stack in the magazine so that the uppermost blank will be unyfeldingly supported when seized by the'piclier device 30 by which it is to be transferred into position to be operated upon. To this end, the flanges of each pulley 30 are provided with line peripheral ratchet teeth 30h (li s. 1 and 11) and two holding pawls 308 are pivoted upon the bracket 986 above the pulley and arranged to severelly engine the ratchet teeth. The tooth-engaging edge of one of the holding pawls 308 is arranged in advance of the tooth-engaging edge of the other holding pawl, a distance equal to one half the length of a single tooth 306, thus increasing the elliciency of the holding device.

For the purpose of holding each follower plate 270 and its supporting platform 2.92 in their lowermost positions to permit the magazines and 57 to be readily refilled with blanks, a latch 310 (Fig. 1) is associated with each of said macuzines and is hinged at 312 to the respective supporting arm 296. The upper extremity or the latch 310 is adapted to enter a notch 31% on the under side of the st n -collarf298 on the adjacent tic-bolt 118. The stop-collar 298 is adjustebly secured by a set-screw 318 to the tiebolt 1.18 and may be adjusted thereupon to permit the l'ollower plate to be latched at dltflerent elevations in the magazine in case it should bedesired to only partially refill the magazine. Each latch 310 may be provided with a suitable handle 320 by which an {ittendunt may readily depress the arm 29.6w lower the follower plate 270.

The blank-separator devices which control the release of the canvas blanks from the magazines 56 and 57, operate to separate the blanks from the stacks as they successively r ach the top of the magazines, leaving the separated blanks free to be removed from the magazines, while temporarily preventing the rest of the'blanks in the stacks from rising under the influence ot' the weights 300. There are four of thesesepa rater devices 21 2 at each magazine arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the magazine and adapted to engage the marginal portions of the sole blanltsadjacent both the toe and heel ends thereof upon opposite sides of a longitudinal medial line.

As best shown in Fig. 12, each separator device con'rprises a pair of reciprocating members or fingers 324 and 326, which are arranged one above the other at one side of the magazine and severally mounted for her izontal sliding movements. Each of the lingers 324- and is adapted to be advanced so that its inner end pro ects into the magazine across the path of feed of the blanks and to be subseipiently retracted clear of said path. nient linger and is arrz'inged to advance in a plane above the topmost blank in the stack, while the lower tin} n- 326 is a separator linger and advance [ll plane to project it between said lilo and the one immediate f beneath The upper and lower The upper linger 324 is an abut.

loo

rent retraction of the upper lingers 32% re leases said blanks, leaving it free to be removed from the magazine, the rest: of the blanks in the stack at this time being retained within the magazine by the inwardly projecting lower lingers 32ft. \Yhen the lower lingers 326 are retracted to permit an upward feed nmvement of the stack to occur under the influence of the weight 1500, the upper lingers 32s move inwardly above the stack to form abutments which engage the upper face of the topmost blank and limit the upward movement of the stack. The under face of the abutment linger 232i is spaced from the upper face of the separator linger 3:36 a distance equal to the thickness of the blank to be separated, thus insuring that a single blank only will be separated from the stack at each blank separating operation.

The blank separating mechanism for each of the two magazines 56 and 57 which, as before stated, comprises four separator devices 272, and the actuating means for said mechanism are identical in construction and mode of operation and consequently a description of one of said mechanisms, together with its actuating means, will sullice for both. In the construction shown, the upper linger 32% of each separator device 272 consists of a llat plate mounted to slide in a guideway 330 (Fig. 12) formed within a housing 332 secured to the upper side of the upper frame member .256 of the magazine. The upper side of the housing 332 is .provided with a slidable cover 333 which permits the removal of the lingers 324 and 326. For the purpose of reducing any tendency of the upper linger 39A to engage the edge of the upper blank as the linger advances, the under face of the finger is curved transversely at its free end to provide a slightly convex surface.

The lower linger 326 of each separator device 272 is of blade-like form and is adjustable upon the inner end of a slide 3356 mounted to reciprocate in the guideway 321d beneath the upper linger plate 324. 'lhe slide 336 rests upon the bottom wall of the guidcway Silt) and is provided at its inner end with an upstanding lug 338 having an upwardly directed bearing lace upon which the under portion of the upper linger 324 is supported and adapted to slide. The linger 326 is formed with an upper horizontal face 339 (Fig. 12) which is opposed to :1 similar face 340 formed on the underside of the upper linger 324, the faces 339 and tilt) being adapted to engage the under and upper laces respectively of the blanks in the magazine.

As shown in Figs. 11 and ll, the opposite lateral edges of each blade-like lower linger 326 are tapered to a point at its inner extremity and are beveled (Fig. 12) to form a knife-like edge. This construction permits the linger to readily force itself between two adjacent blanks when it, is advanced into the magazine without any tendency to distort. the edges of the blanks.

For the purpose of preventing possible cdgcwise displacement. of the blanks engaged by the lower separator linger 3:26 as said linger l'orces its way into the stack, four pairs of gage lingers ill-.2 are provided, the lingers of each pair rising adjacent the opposite lateral edges of the separator lingers from a sleeve 344-, (Fig. l2). At one end, the sleeve Ell-1- is split, as indicated at Ill-'7, and secured by a binding screw tilt; to a post 2 6 projecting horizontally from a rib on the upper frame member can of the magazine. The gage lingers L342 engage the lateral edges of the blanks, the lingers associated with a separator device at one side taking the edgewise thrust of the blanks (Jtllhttl by the action of the lower linger 2321, of the opposed separator device. The gage lingers ill"). hear more closely against. the blanks than the guide rods 252, the gage lingers being arranged to permit no edgewise play of the blanks between them. Thus the blanks are uniformly located with respect to the picker devices (5U associated with the particular magazine in which the blanks are contained.

Provision is made for adapting the separator devices 272 to operate upon blanks of dill'erent thicknesses so as to separate the blanks, one by one, from the stack. To this end, the lower linger 326 is mounted upon, the slide 3236 so that it may be adjusted vertically with relation to the upper linger 324: to vary the space between the two lingers as the thickness of the blanks may require. As shown in Fig. 14-, the linger 326 has a dovetailed connection with the slide 23%, whereby the linger is adapted for vertical adjustment. The linger 326 may l adjusled by means of a screw 350 having a portion which turning without longitudinal movement. in a bearing formed in a block 1551 secured, to the forward end of the slide Ilfilt' by a screw 35:1. The shank of the adjusting screw 350 threaded into the linger Il'iti. By means of the screw 35b, a very line adjustment, of the lower separator linger 25;"; may be obtained for varying its, relation in the upper separator linger.

The upper and lower lingcrsflilt and Pill of each of the pair of separator devices 272 at the outer side of the magazines 5G and 5? are reciprocated concurrently in opposite directions by means of a pinion 35-i- (Fius. 11 and which is located in the guideway 3-30 between said fingers. The pinion 351i engages rack teeth 356 formed on the under side of the upper plate 324 and rack teeth 358 formed on the upper side of the slide 3:56 which carries the lower linger 326. The pinions 354 which actuate the two pairs of separator lingers at the side of the magazine ill) 

